Avina allowed herself to be pulled behind Devin since he seemed to have encountered witches before.  Though she took a small step to the side so that she could still see what was going on. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Brian grabbing Violet by the arm and pushing her up the stairs while the witch still had her back turned. Unashamedly terrified, Keil followed the little vampire up the stairs in order to hide as well. Brian then stood at the bottom of the stairs with his arms crossed. Avina looked back at the red-haired woman just as she turned around and Brian claimed that she was the Marrok’s mate. Since when did the Marrok have a mate? And why didn’t all wolves know that their ultimate leader was mated to a witch?

Jessie gestured to the windows and the eyes carved into them. [color=orange]“These things? I have been around longer than they have.”[/color] She ran her thumb over one of the eyes and left a bright red burn mark appeared across the symbol. [color=orange]“They do not affect me. It was a nice try though.”[/color] Jessie turned around and laughed at the two less bodies in the room.

[color=orange]“Trying to protect your own?”[/color] She asked with a shake of her head. [color=orange]“Not to worry, I am only here for Avina and Devin. You can go hide too, Brian.”[/color] Brian growled at her as his eyes started to shift colors.

[color=aquamarine]“Don’t Brian.”[/color] Avina warned, she wasn’t sure what they were up against and out right attacking was not going to help.

[color=orange]“Yes, Brian, don’t. I could snap your neck before you made two steps.”[/color] Jessie looked back at Avina and Devin and smiled. [color=orange]“Awe! Look, Romeo is trying to protect his little Juliet.”[/color] She pointed her finger at Devin and he instantly lifted into the air only to land roughly against the wall only to be pinned there. 

[Color=aquamarine]“Devin!”[/color] Avina started to run towards him but Brian grabbed her arm to stop her. [color=aquamarine]“Devin!”[/color] She called again even though she didn’t try to pull away. [color=aquamarine]“Let him go!”[/color]

[color=orange]“I will, in a minute but first I have to tell him a secret.”[/color] Jessie leaned into whisper in Devin’s ear even though she knew Avina could hear her clearly. [color=orange]“Let me let you in on a little secret, Romeo. In the end, you die.”[/color] She said with a laugh. [color=orange]“And you do not need to protect Avina. A mother would never hurt her only daughter.”[/color]

[color=aquamarine]“What are you talking about?”[/color] Avina cried. [color=aquamarine]“I buried my mother before I turned into a werewolf!”[/color] Avina looked over at Brian who was looking between the witch and Avina. 

[color=orange]“Did your mother have your bright red hair, Avina? Or did you get it from your father?”[/color] Jessie asked.

[color=aquamarine]“Neither, but..”[/color] Avina looked down at her hair then back at Jessie.

[color=orange]“That’s right, you come from a long line of powerful witches. If only you had allowed your body to naturally change into a wolf, my darling.”[/color] Avina could feel herself sliding across the floor with no control of her own movement. [color=orange]“If that fiancé of yours had never bite you, you would have been a fantastic off breed! A witch naturally turned into a werewolf, you would have been the best of both of us!”[/color]

Avina tried to pull her head away from the woman’s hand that was resting on her cheek but she found that she couldn’t move. [color=aquamarine]“How could I have been a natural wolf? All of us are bitten that is the only way!”[/color] She said with little conviction. She had a feeling she knew who Jessie thought her father was.

[color=orange]“Put it together little one. How could you be a natural born wolf?” [/color]

Avina looked over at Devin who was still being held against the wall with magic. She couldn’t say it out loud. It was impossible. There was no way this crazy woman in front of her was her mother! And there was no way that the…. She stopped herself before she could finish that thought.

[color=orange]“Avina, think about it. You were one of the only women who ever survived the change! That is because you were born to be who you are. And why do you think you were able to work your way through your pack? What woman do you know that has as much dominance in her blood as you do? You inherited your strength and will from your father, and you fierce personality from me. The perfect offspring!”[/color]

Avina screamed and pushed herself out of the other red-headed woman’s magic. She stumbled back breathing hard. [color=aquamarine]“Let him go!”[/color] She growled as she pointed at Devin. He fell to the floor with a flick of the witch’s hand. Avina ran over to him and kneeled down beside him. [color=aquamarine]“Are you okay?”[/color] She asked softly.